Dusties undefeated after Frankston fight
The Warragul Industrials women's division one side is now three from three after conquering their biggest challenge for the season as they took on last year's division one runners-up Frankston.
In a hard fought contest it was eventually the Dusties who prevailed 4.7 (31) to 3.8 (26) at Kinetic Stadium. This ground hosts AFLW games as well as VFL/VFLW games.
In beautiful weather conditions the Dusties made a slow start and spent most of the first term defending the hard-running Frankston team.
The momentum of the game was certainly with the home team early but to their credit the Dusties girls showed the grit they are renowned for and not only fought their way back into the contest but also got on top on the scoreboard.
Some tactical and structural changes assisted the Dusties in taking control of the game.
The defence was repelling many attacks with Sarah Burns, Bella Brown and Monai Porykali all on top of their opponents.
The Dusties midfield were relentless in their efforts to push the ball forward and to get back into defense to help.
The midfield of Alisha Molesworth, Indi Makai, Abbie Hoiberg-Cox and Elisha Molesworth were all getting plenty of the ball and were being given first use by Jess Szalek who was dominant in ruck.
The Dusties forwards managed to find more space in the second half with Nikia Webber and Josie MacDonald and Samara Beaton finding plenty of the ball.
With scores only four points the difference the last few minutes was frantic.
A shot on goal from the Dusties side hit the post, giving Frankston possession with 50 seconds to score a goal.
They managed to get the ball to the wing before being halted by a big textbook tackle from Bella Brown. The siren went and the Dusties were victorious.
Best players in a great team effort were Jess Szalek, Monai Porykali, Samara Beaton, Alisha Molesworth, Abbie Hoiberg-Cox and Josi MacDonald.
Division three of the MPFNL featured the Dusties development girls in the curtain raiser preceding the tightly contested division one game.
They faced a formidable Frankston reserves outfit that had yet to concede a goal in the first two rounds of the league resulting in them being rumoured to be regraded up into division two.
The Warragul Industrials reserves went into the match as underdogs, something further exacerbated by the injury toll from round two which included Ellen Croft, a standout performer in the team's first two rounds.
Despite the odds, the Warragul Industrials girls held Frankston to just one goal in the tightly contested first half.
Frankston emerged eventual winners by 35 points, but they were made to work hard throughout the match.
The defensive pressure from Dusties the midfielders and backline was the strongest seen this year, yet they struggled to convert that pressure into goals.
The final scores stood at Frankston 6.5 (41) defeating WIFNC 1.0 (6).
Leading the way with a consistent and contested effort across all four quarters were Lily Baldwin and Jess McGovern, well supported by Britt Kilner, Tarsh Sanders, Nik Sheridan, and Kristy Mason, all of whom emerged injury free.
With several players returning to the ranks this Friday night, the girls will face Sorrento away under lights at 7pm in a standalone game, while the division one side takes on Karingal at 2pm Sunday at home in Western Park.